How does increased rainfall impact aquatic ecosystems?

Prepare for the APES Aquatic Pollution Test. Study with flashcards and multiple-choice questions. Get detailed hints and explanations for each question to ace your exam!

Increased rainfall can significantly enhance nutrient runoff, which has a direct impact on aquatic ecosystems. When it rains heavily, water often flows over land surfaces, washing away fertilizers, pesticides, organic matter, and other pollutants from agricultural and urban areas into rivers, lakes, and streams. This process introduces excess nutrients, particularly nitrogen and phosphorus, into aquatic systems, often leading to eutrophication.

Eutrophication occurs when these nutrients stimulate the excessive growth of algae, known as algal blooms. While algae can initially provide food for aquatic organisms, their overgrowth can create several problems. Once the algae die and decompose, the process consumes large amounts of dissolved oxygen in the water, leading to hypoxic or anoxic conditions that harm fish and other aquatic life. This shift in the ecosystem significantly affects biodiversity and water quality.

The other choices do not accurately describe the predominant effects of increased rainfall. While changes in water temperature can occur, increased rainfall typically does not consistently decrease it. Similarly, increased rainfall does not generally reduce streamflow; rather, it usually increases flow due to runoff. Lastly, oxygen levels may not improve as increased nutrient loading can lead to lower oxygen levels due to decomposition processes. Therefore, enhanced nutrient runoff stands out as the key impact of

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